Control system for electric heating units



Aug. 12, 1952 AKELEY 2,606,990

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC HEATING UNITS I Original Filed June 5, 194a 2sHEE'rs-sHEET1 zz 3 l4 &2 34 /3 5a T 2/ ,8 /7 5:7

43 2; as m a 7 36d 4 Iriventor: Lloyd T Akeley.

His Attorney.

g- 12, 1952 L. T. AKELEY 2,606,990

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC HEATING UNITS Original Filed June 5, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 MANUAL H/G H flUTOM/I 775 HIGH 7'0 FOUR TH A urorm TIC HIGH 7'0 THIRD Ir'w'vnc or: Lloyd T Akeley l-1i Attorney.

Patented Aug. 12, 1952 CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC HEATING UNITS! Lloyd T. Akelcy, Lynn, Mass, assignor to General Electric (Jompany, a corporation of New York Original application June 3, 1948, Serial No.

30,835. Divided and this application September 21, 1949, Serial No. 116,877

2 Claims. (Cl. 219-20) This invention relates to electric hotplates for electric ranges and the like, and it has for its object the provision of an inexpensive and simple control for apparatus of this character which for certain cooking operations automatically will reduce the heat from a high initial value which rapidly brings the food to the cooking temperature, to a lower cooking value which maintains the cooking temperature.

More specifically, this invention contemplates an improved control for a hotplate having at least a pair of heating element, i. e., temperature control means for the heating elements which functions responsively to the temperature of the cooking vessel on the hotplate to operate the heating elements first to deliver their maximum heat quickly to bring the cooking vessel to the cooking temperature and then automatically to reduce their heat delivery so as to maintain the cooking temperature. A selector switch is included in the hotplate system to preselect the lower cooking heat. The temperature control means is in the form of a heat transfer switch which coacts directly and only with the selector switch to effect the initial maximum heat delivery and then, upon the vessel attaining the cooking temperature, to effect the lower cooking heat. The present application is a division of my application Serial No. 30,835, filed June 3, 1948, now patent 2,534,097, and assigned to the same assignee.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an electric range provided with a hotplate embodying this invention; Fig. 2. is a central vertical sectional view of a hotplate embodying this invention, the figure being drawn on a larger scale than in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through the line 33 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and Figs. 4, 5, 6, '7 and 8 are diagrammatic representations of the heating system and switch means therefor, arranged in accordance with this invention.

' Referring to the drawings, this invention has beenshown in one form as applied to an electric range I comprising four surface heating units 2, 3, 4 and 5, mounted in the top cooking surface 511 of the range, and also an oven 6 located beneath the top surface a. The surface heating units 2 to 5, inclusive, are controlled by means of rotary selector switches l, 8, 9 and I0, respectively, while the oven 6 is controlled by a selector switch II and the oven temperature is controlled and set my a thermostat l2. Each of the surface units 3, 4 and 5 has a pair of heating elements which, by means of its respective switch 8, 9 and I0 is connected in various circuit relations to a three-wire supply source so as to provide a number of different degrees of heat generation. The oven switch ll controls the oven heating units (not shown) to provide bake and broil heats.

Th heating unit 2 is controlled in accordance with this invention to generate a high degree of heat initially and then, after the cooking vessel placed upon the hotplate has attained a predetermined cooking temperature, is automatically controlled to generate a lower cooking heat which is selected by the switch 1. Moreover, it is contemplated that for automatic operation the switch I will be adjusted to the desired cooking heat position, but in any such case the initial heat generated will be that attained by operating the unit 2 to its maximum wattage, and only when the cooking temperature has been attained will the automatic control cause the heating unit 2 to generate the lower selected cooking wattage.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, the heating unit 2 comprises a pair of heat generating elements I3 and M. The element [3 is in the form of a ring, while the element 14 is spirally wound and lies within the ring element [3. The two heating elements I3 and [4 have their upper surfaces lying in a horizontal cooking plane and preferably these surfaces will be flattened somewhat as shown in Fig. 2. It will be understood that the cooking vessel will be supported directly by these flattened surfaces in the cooking plane. Also, it will be observed that the cooking plane is elevated somewhat with respect to the top surface 5a. The two heating elements [3 and I4 preferably will be of the sheathed type, each comprising a helical resistance conductor 15 housed within a tubular metallic sheath l6 and embedded in and held in spaced relation with reference to this sheath by a compact mass of electrically insulating and heat conducting material [1, such as powdered magnesium oxide. The elements l3 and I l are supported in a gridlike spider [8 which, in turn, is mounted in a ring l8a which supports the grid and heating elements from the top surface 5a, as shown. Under the elements [3 and I4 is a bowl-shaped metallic reflector pan I9 which is supported by means of a flange lila attached to the to surface 5a.

Mounted in the central area of the heating unit is a temperature responsive control element 20.

acceeeo This element comprises a temperature responsive element 2| in the form of a bimetallic bar; this bar is formed of two metals having dissimilar coefiicients of expansion and secured together lengthwise from end to end. The upper end 22 of the bar is formed at right angles to the main body of the bar and this portion is secured to a cap 23, formed of a good heat conducting material, such as copper or aluminum; the section 22 is secured to the cap 23 in any suitable fasharranged that when it is cool, that is, at room temperature, it occupies its position shown in Fig. 2, whereas, when it is heated it tends to move toward the left, that is, clockwise, as viewed in this figure.

The cap 23 is supported on and closes the upper end of a heat insulating cylindrical tube 23 mounted vertically with its central axis substantially coincident with the central vertical axis of unit 2, and which tube is formed of any suitable heat insulating material, such as a glassfilled phenol condenation product. The tube extends downwardly through a central aperture 25 formed in the bottom wall of the reflector i9, as shown.

The thermostat bar 2| functions to operate a transfer switching mechanism 26 mounted in the lower end of the tube 24 to efiect the automatic high to low heat delivery heretofore referred to. This switching mechanism comprises a pair or vertically spaced contacts 21 and 23 which coact with a bridging contact 29, and a contact 33 which coacts with a companion contact 3i. Contacts 21 and 28 are mounted on electrically conducting spring contact arms 32 and. 33 re spectively; bridging contact 29 is mounted on the right side of an electrically conducting spring contact arm 34, while contact 30 is mounted on the opposite side of this arm 33'; and contact 3i is mounted on the right side of an electrically conducting spring contact arm lit-all as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The resiliency of the arms 32, 33 and 34is such that they bias bridging contact 29 into engagement with contacts 21 and 2 8; and normally at room temperature the thermostatic element 21 is in its position, as shown, to maintain bridging contact 29 in contact with contacts 21 and 28. The lower ends of switch arms 32, 33, 34 and 35 are secured to two rigid metallic arms 35a and 35!) which at their upper ends are secured to the lower end of the tube 2 3 by rivets, as shown, and to which the contact arms are secured by means of bolts 350. The switch arms are electrically insulated from each other and from the metallic arms 35a. and 351) by means of insulating washers 35d and tubes 35c, the latter surrounding the bolts 350, as shown.

The thermostatic bar 2| is connected to the switch mechanism by means of an electrically insulating bar 36 formed of any suitable electrical insulating and heat resisting material, such as a phenol condensation product. The upper end of this bar is secured to the lower end of the bimetal bar by means of a rivet, while its lower end is secured to the upper end of the switch arm 34, which projects upwardly beyond the upper ends of the remaining switch arms, by means of a screw 36a.

The insulating bar 36 carries intermediate its ends a permanent magnet 31 which coacts with an armature 38. Armature 38 is mounted on the lower end of a spring arm 39, the upper end of which is fixed to the upper end of the tube 34 by means of rivets, as shown. Spring arm 39 biases -lO ion, as by brazing. The thermostatic bar 2! is so 4 the armature 33 toward the right against an adjustable stop 40 threaded in the tube for adjustment. The magnet and armature bias the bar 35 and hence the connecting switch arm 34 toward the right.

Switch arm 35 also carries -.an armature H on its left side which coacts with an electromagnetic element 42 having a core 43 which conveniently may be formed as an upper extension on the switch assembly arm 35a, and the electromagnet also has a coil 44 which surrounds the core. The core and its coil, as shown, are

mounted outside of .the tube 24, but the upper end of the core 45 is directed inwardly and projects through an opening provided for it in the tube; the lower end of the core also is directed inwardly toward the tube, but it is secured to the outside of the tube by means of the rivets fastening the arm 35a to the tube and which rivets extend through the tube. The upper end 35 of the core and the inner heads of the rivets form the two poles of the electromagnet 42 and they coact with the armature M to move it toward the left (Fig. 2) when the coil 44 is energized. The lower end of the coil 44 is permanently connected electrically to contact arm 32 by means of a jumper 45a. The switching arrangement just described is the subject of an application filed concurrently herewith, Serial No. 116,878 now Patent 2,575,084 and assigned to the same assignee.

The heating unit 2 further comprises a shield ii consisting of two concentric cylindrical shells formed of heat reflecting material and positioned around the upper end of tube 24 in concentric relation with it and with each other and about the zone of the tube housing the bimetallic bar 2!. These shells 41, as well as the cylinder 24, function to prevent radiant heat of the heating elements 13 and M from gaining access to the bimetallic bar 2|.

The tube 24 is supported by and is biased upwardly so that normally (when the hotplate is not loaded by a cooking vessel) the cap 23 lies above the cooking plane of the. heating elements 13 and It by a helical compression spring 48 havingits upper end bearing against a metallic flange 43 attached to the tube 24 and its lower end bearing against the bottom of the reflector bowl 5%. The shells 4'! at their lower ends are secured together by means of blocks of heat insulating material 53, and these blocks are attached to a plate 5|; the plate 5| is biased upwardly by springs 52 (shown more, clearly in Fig. 3) which are lanced from the material of which the flange 49 is made and which project upwardly to bias the shell assembly 41 upwardly. The springs are arranged to bias these shells so that their upper ends lie in a plane above the top surface of the cap 23 when the heating unit is unloaded. It will be observed thatthe assembly of the shells i! and their supports 50 and 5| merely rest upon the springs, 52 so that this assembly may be removed as a unit and cleaned if it is desired to do so.

Surrounding the assembly of the tubes 24 and l! and their supporting means, and in spaced relation with respect to these elements, is a metallictube 53; the upper end of'this tube is below the level of the cooking plane, and its lower end is flared outwardly and secured to the reflector bowl IS. The hotplate unit with the heat shielding arrangement is retained as the subject of the parent application of which this is a division. a I

It will be understood that when a cooking vessel is placedon the heating unit it first will engage the tube series 41- and' depress it against the force of the springs 52 and then will engage the cap 23 and depress the tube 24 along with the shells 41 against the force of the spring '48, whereby the cap 23 is firmly pressed against the bottom of the cooking vessel and so also will the shells 41. The cooking vessel, therefore, constitutes a thermal ground, so to speak, of high heat capacity 'for the metallic shells 41 and hence functions to drain heat from them, which heat is radiated to them from the high temperature heating elements l3 and I4, and thereby prevents an undue rise inthe temperature within tube 24.

The selector switch 1 may be of any suitable type, butpreferably it will be of the type described and claimed in the U. S. patent to C. P. Randolph et al., No. 2,203,236, dated June 4, 1940. Briefly, this switch comprises a series of flexible contact fingers 54, 55, 56, 51, 58 and 59 fixed at one end, their lower ends as viewed in Figs. 4 to ,8, to an electrically insulating housing (not shown) and at their upper ends carry contacts which coact with fixed contacts 66, 6|, 62, 63, 64 and '65 respectively mounted in the housing. It will be understood, and as fully described and explained in the Randolph patent, the contact fingers 54 to 59 are operated by means of a suitable rotary cam (not shownand rotated by knob 1) so as to move into and out of engagement with their respective contacts 66 to 65 in a predetermined order as knob 1 is rotated. Since the details of this construction form no part of this invention, it is not believed necessary to describe it in greater detail here. It is pointed out, howover, that contact fingers 54 and 59 have their own individual terminals, while contact fingers 55 and 56 have a common terminal and fingers 51 and 58 have a common terminal, all as shown in Figs. 4 to 8. Fixed'contacts v66, 6|, 64 and 65 have their individual terminals, while fixed contacts 62 and 63 have a common terminal.

The terminals of spring fingers 54 to 59 and the terminals of fixed contact 60 to '65 are connected-to a three-wire supply source indicated by thenumerals 66, 61 and 68 (the voltage across the two outside wires 66 and 61 being substantially double that across each of these outside wires and the neutral wire 68, the higher voltage preferably being 236 and the lower H5), and also to the heating elements I3 and I4 and to the temperature responsive control element 20,- as shown in Fig. 4. As there shown, one terminal of the heating element I3 is connected to the common terminal of the switch fingers 55 and 56; a terminal 68a, common to the two heater elements l3 and I4, is connected to the fixed contact'60; and the remaining'terminal'of the heating element [4 is connected to the commonterminal for the fixed contact 62 and '63; finger 54 is connected to the outside supply wire 66; fingers 51 and 58 to the outside supply wire 61, and finger 59 to the neutral supply wire 68; fixed contact 6| is connected to the spring finger 34 of the control element 20; fixed contacts 62 and 63 are connected to the spring finger 33 of element 20; fixed contact 64 is connected with one end of the electromagnet coil 44; and fixed contact 65 is connected with switch finger 35 of the control element 2llall as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

In the operation of the specific embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, it is con-' templated that switch 1 will effect two manually controlled heatsiman'uallycontrolledin the sense that when eitherheat-is set the heating elements will deliver the corresponding heat'contim'iously and without being afiected by the operation of the control element20),-and two automatically controlled heats wherein in each case the maximum heat capacity of-the elements [3 and I4 s delivered and thereafter when the thermal element 20 operates, a lower cooking heat is delivered depending upon the setting of the switch 1.

To effect the highest heat output under manual control, theswitch 1 is operated from its off position of Fig. 4 to its manual high position of Fig. 5. This operation connects the two heating elements Band 14 in parallel-across the outside wires 66 and 61, that is, to the high voltage side of the supply source, by a circuit which may be traced from the outside wire '66 through the switch finger 54 and closed'contact 66, terminal 66a of of the heating elements, thence through heating element [3 and contact fingers 56 and'51 to the other outside wire 61; and from heater terminal 680: through heater element 14, contact 63 and switch finger 51 to the supply wire 61. It will be obvious here that the thermal element 20 is out of the heating system and hence its operation will have no efiectupon the heat delivered by the elements I3 and I4. I

Lower manual heat, designated manual second, is eifected by operating the switch '1 to its position of Fig. 6. This operation functions to connect the heater element 14 only across the outside wire'66 and 61, the heating element I3'being deenergized; this circuit may be traced from the outside wire 66, through the switch finger'54, fixed contact 60, heater element l4 and thence through fixed contact 63 and switchfinger 51 to the outside supply wire 61. I

To effect the first automatic heat wherein the maximum output of heat is delivered initially to bring the cooking pot quickly to its cooking temperature, and wherein-the heat then is cut down to a lower cooking heat but'which is'still higher than the lowest cooking heat delivered, the switch 1 is moved to itsautomatic high to third position of Fig. '1. This operation of the switch first connects the two heater elements l3 and 14 in parallel to the twooutside wires 66 and 61, but also connects the control element 20 into the control system. Thus, when the switch is in its position of Fig. '1 the heater element I3 is connected across the outside wires 66 and 61 by a circuit which is traced from outside wire 66 through switch finger 54,- switch contact 60, heater terminal 68a, heater element [3, switch finger 55, switch contact 6|, finger 34- of control element 2!], closed contacts 29 and 21, finger 32, magnet coil 44, all of element 20, and switch contact 64 and switch finger '56 tosupply wire 61; heater element l 4 also is connectedto these wires 66 and 61 bya circuit which may be traced from supply wire 66, through switch'finger '54; switch contact 60, heaterterminal 68a, heater element 14, contact finger 33 of element 26; closed contacts 28 and 29 of this element, and contacts 29 and 28 thereof, finger 34 of this element, closed contacts 29 and 21, contact finger 32 and coil 44, and thence through switch contact 64 and switch finger 58 to the outside supply wire 61.

The heater elements 13 and I4 are thus energized in parallel to the outside wires and therefore will deliver the maximum heat. This condition will persist until the heated .vessel and 7 hence the bimetallic bar 2| is heated to the has been obtainedthe bar 2 will have set up therein=sufiicientstress to move it to the left with asnapection against the force of magnet 31 coacting with armature 38, and when this occurs, itwill open the contacts 21 and 29 and contact 28 and will close contacts 30 and 3|.

Here it is to be observedthat when the heater elements l3 and H are connected in parallel to the outside wires 56 and Bl by the circuits described above, the heater current will flow through the electromagnet coil 44 of element 20. This-coil, therefore, will energize electromagnet 42 and pull the spring contact arm 35 toward theleft; that is, it moves the contact 3| toward the left away from contact 30. The purpose of this is to delay the making of contacts 30 and 3| following the breaking of contacts 21 and 28 and 29 so as to assure that any are between the latter sets of contacts is broken before the contacts 39and 3| are brought into engagement, thereby protecting the device against a short circuit without the use of special relays; it will be observed that the circuit through the coil 44 will be complete and hence the magnet 42 energized as long as any are between contacts 21 and 28 and 29 is maintained. Once this are is extinguished, the magnet will be deenergized and the contact 31 will be returned by the resiliency of arm 35 to its position for engagement with contact 30.

The operation of the control element 20 in closing the contacts 39 and 3| transfers the heater elements [3 and M from the high voltage of the two outside wires 66 and 61 to the low voltage of the outside wire 66 and the neutral wire 68. The circuit for the heater l3 may be traced from the outside wire 66 through switch finger 54, switch contact 60, heater terminal 68a, heater element l3, switch finger 55, switch. contact 81 and thence through switch finger 34 of element 29, its contact 39 and associated contact 3|, switch finger 35. of element 28 and thence through'contact 65 and finger 59 of switch I to the neutral wire 68. The energizing circuit of element [4 may be traced from the outside wire 66, through switch finger54, contact 8i), heater terminal 68a, heater element l4, contact 62of switch 1, fingers 56': and 55 of switch I, contact fil =of switchl, and thence through the elements, 39, 3| and 35 of the control element 20, and finally through switch I, contact 65 and switch finger 59 to the neutral wire 68. In other words, merely by setting the control switch to Fig. 7, the maximum degree of heat is generated until the bimetal bar 21 moves toward the left, which operation automatically connects the two heater elements for a lower cooking heat. I

Still a further lower cooking heat following the maximum degree of heat generated for quick heating is had automatically by moving the control switch I to its automatic high to fourth position of Fig. 8, ,The operation of the control switch to this position first connects the two heaters Hand [4 in parallel to the outside wires 65 and 61. This operation connects the heater [3 across the outside lwires BSand 61 by a circuit which may be traced from the outside wire 66 and the elements 54 and 60 of switch I, heater terminal 88a, heater [3, and elements 55 and 5| of switch l, thence through elements 34, 29, 27, 32 and 44 of control element 20, and finally'through switch 1 elements 64 and 58 to the. wire 61. Heaterelement l4 is energized fromoutside wire 66 through elements 54 and 69 of switch 1,; heater terminal 68a, heater [4, and through elements 33, 28, 29, 21, 32 and 44 of con trol' element 20, andv finally through elements 64 and 58 of switch 1 to the outside wire 61.

Here, however, when the thermostat 2| responds to the cooking vessel attaining the cooking temperature and operates to open contacts 28 and 29 and 2 1 and 29 and to close contacts 3| and 35, the heating element 13 only is energized and it is energized on the low voltage across the outside wire 66 and the neutral wire 68. This circuit for heating element l3 may be traced from the outside wire 66 through the elements 54 and of switch 1, heater terminal l8a, heater element l3, switch elements 55 and 6|, elements 34, 30, 3| and 35 of control device 20, and thence through switch 1 elements 65 and 59 to the neutral wire 68. 7

While I have shown and described particular embodiments of my invention, it will occur to those skilled in the art that [various changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention, and I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an electric hotplate, the combination of a pair of heating elements for heating a cooking vessel placed upon said plate, supply conductors for supplying electric energy to said heating elements, a single manually operable selector switch connected in said supply conductors and controlling energy to said heating elements, said selector switch having a control knob operating said switch to an off position, to at least one predetermined manual controlling relatively high temperature cooking position and to at least one predetermined automatic controlling relatively lower temperature cooking position, said selector switch being opened when in said off position and directly connecting said supply conductors to said heating elements when in said manually controlling cooking position, a thermally responsive transfer switch directly responsive'to 'the temperature of a cooking vessel on'said plate, said transfer switch having a pair of controlling switches which are opened and closed directly by said transfer switch, said transfer switch directly closing one of said controlling switches when at room temperature and maintaining said switch closed until said transfer, switch attains apredetermined high temperaturewhereupon said transfer switch opens said one controlling switch and directly closes the secondcontrolling switch, electrical connections from said selector switch tosaid transfer switch and through said transfer switch to said heating elements,- said connections being opened and closed bysaid controllingswitches, said electrical connections, through said selector switch and said transfer switch, supplying energy from said supply conductors in parallel to said heating elements to provide a high rate of heat delivery when said selector. switch is in said automatic controlling cooking position and said transfer switch is below said predetermined temperature, and said transfer switch upon attainment of said temperature, transferring said connections from said supply conductors to said heating elements and supplying a reduced rate of energy to said heating elements, to provide a lesser rate of heatdelivery. 1

2. In an electric hotplate, the combination of a pair of heating elements for heating a cooking vessel placed upon said plate, supply conductors for supplying electric energy to said heating elements, a single manually operable selector switch connected in said supply conductors and controlling energy to said heating elements, said selector switch having a control knob operating said switch to an off position, to a plurality of predetermined manual controlling relatively high temperature cooking positions and to a plurality of predetermined automatic controlling relatively lower temperature cooking positions, said selector switch being opened when in said off position and directly and selectively conmeeting said supply conductors to said heating elements to provide different fixed rates of heat delivery to said elements when said switch is in a manually controlling position, a thermally responsive transfer switch directly responsive to the temperature of a cooking vessel on said plate, said transfer switch having a pair of controlling switches which are opened and closed directly by said transfer switch, said transfer switch directly closing one of said controlling switches when at room temperature and maintaining said switch closed until said transfer switch attains a predetermined high temperature whereupon said transfer switch opens said one controlling switch and directly closes the second controlling switch, electrical connections from said selector switch to said transfer switch and through said transfer switch to said heating elements, said connections being opened and closed by said controlling switches, said electrical connections, through said selector switch and said transfer switch, supplying energy from said supply conductors in parallel to said heating elements to provide a high rate of heat delivery when said selector switch is in any automatic controlling cooking position and said transfer switch is below said predetermined temperature, and said transfer switch upon attainment of said temperature transferring said connections from said supply conductors to said heating elements and supplying a different reduced rate of energy to said heating elements depending upon the automatic controlling position of said selector switch, to provide a lesser rate of heat delivery.

LLOYD T. AKELEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,210,947 Myers et al. Aug. 13, 1940 2,215,404 Myers Sept. 17, 1940 2,363,326 Hodgkins Nov. 21, 1944 2,395,152 Taylor Feb. 19, 1946 2,409,414 Bletz Oct. 15, 1946 2,534,097 Akeley Dec. 12, 1950 2,575,084 Akeley Nov. 13, 1951 

